2026 in Kuwait
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| See also: | Other events of 2026 List of years in Kuwait Timeline of Kuwaiti history | ||||
Events in the year 2026 in Kuwait.
Holidays
- 1 January – New Year's Day
- 16 January – The Prophet's Ascension
- 25 February – National Day
- 26 February – Liberation Day
- 20 March – 22 March – Eid al-Fitr
- 26 May – Arafat Day
- 27– 28 May – Eid al-Adha
- 16 June – Islamic New Year
- 27 August – The Prophet's Birthday
Events
January
- 15–29 January – 2026 Asian Men's Handball Championship[3]
February
- 1 February – Cabinet reshuffles.[4]
- 22 February – Kuwait summons the Iraqi chargé d'affaires in protest over the submission by Iraq of revised maps and maritime boundaries to the United Nations.[5]
- 28 February –
- In retaliation for the 2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran, Iran launches missiles at surrounding countries, including Kuwait.[6]
- Iranian Shahed drones strike Kuwait International Airport resulting in minor injures to several airport workers as well as damage to the main airport terminal.[7]
March
- 1 March – Six American soldiers are killed in an Iranian drone strike on a US military operations center in Port Shuaiba.[8]
- 2 March –
- Three F-15E fighter jets of the U.S. Air Force crash in Kuwait during combat operations against Iran after being mistakenly shot down by the Kuwait Armed Forces. All crew members survive. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirms the loss of the three aircraft in a friendly fire incident.[9]
- Iranian drones strike the U.S. embassy in Kuwait City.[10]
- Two Kuwait Naval Force members are killed amid Iranian attacks, according to the Kuwaiti Defence Ministry.[11]
- 4 March – An 11-year-old Iranian girl dies at Amiri Hospital from injuries sustained after shrapnel fell in a residential area in the Capital Governorate.[12][13]
- 5 March – The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reports that an explosion struck a tanker anchored in waters about 60 km (37 mi) off the coast of Kuwait, causing an oil spill from a damaged cargo tank.[14]
- 7 March – The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation announces a precautionary reduction in crude oil production and refining operations in response to Iranian attacks and threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.[15]
- 8 March –
- The headquarters of the Public Institution for Social Security Fund is damaged in an Iranian air attack.[16]
- Two members of the General Administration of Land Border Security die after shrapnel fell on Mutlaa Road. One of them was Al-Salmiya SC footballer Fahad Al-Mejmed, who had held his testimonial match just days before his death.[17][18]
- 12 March – Kuwait International Airport is targeted by several drones, causing material damage but no injuries.[19]
- 14 March – Three soldiers are injured in a drone strike that damages Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base.[20]
- 15 March – An Italian MQ-9 Reaper is destroyed in an Iranian drone strike on Ali Al Salem Air Base.[21]
- 16 March – The Ministry of Interior arrests 16 people, including 14 Kuwaitis and two Lebanese, on suspicion of involvement with Hezbollah.[22][23]
- 19 March – Iranian Shahed drones strike two oil refineries in Kuwait causing large fires, according to the Kuwait National Petroleum Company.[24]
- 20 March – Iran attacks the Mina al-Ahmadi refinery.[25]
Deaths
- 31 January – Fathi Kameel, 71, footballer (Al-Tadamon, national team).[26]
- 8 March – Fahad Al-Mejmed, 33, footballer (Al-Qadsia, Al-Salmiya, national team).[27]
References
- ^ "Kuwait Public Holidays 2025". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
- ^ "Kuwait Public Holidays 2026". qppstudio. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
- ^ "Kuwait to host 2026 handball AFC Asian Cup". Kuwait Times. 24 February 2025. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
- ^ "Kuwait Amir signs decree reshuffling cabinet". Kuwait News Agency. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ "Gulf countries back Kuwait's sovereignty after Iraq draws new boundaries". Al Jazeera. 23 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "AFP: Loud explosions heard in Saudi capital Riyadh". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
- ^ Reaven (2026-02-28). "Kuwait airport targetted by drones". Times Kuwait. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
- ^ Konstantin Toropin; Rebecca Boone (2026-03-02). "US soldiers were killed in an Iranian drone strike at a civilian port in Kuwait". AP News. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ^ Lucas Lilieholm; Haley Britzky; Helen Regan; Eyad Kourdi; Isaac Yee; Teele Rebane (2026-03-02). "Three US fighter jets accidentally shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses, military says". CNN. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
- ^ "Clouds Of Smoke Seen Rising From US Embassy In Kuwait After Iran Strikes".
- ^ "Kuwait says one of its naval soldiers killed in military 'operation'". The Times of Israel. 2026-03-02. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
- ^ "الحرب على إيران: وفاة طفلة في الكويت إثر سقوط شظايا في منطقة الأدعمي السكنية". France 24 (in Arabic). 4 March 2026. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ "وفاة طفلة في الكويت جراء سقوط شظايا في منطقة سكنية". Al Arabiya (in Arabic). 4 March 2026. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ "UK maritime agency reports explosion, oil spill off Kuwait". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ "Kuwait's national oil company announces production cut". Ahram Online. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "تعرض المبنى الرئيسي للمؤسسة للاستهداف مما أسفر عن وقوع أضرار مادية". Emarat Al Youm (in Arabic). 8 March 2026. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ "Interior Ministry mourns two fallen officers, Abdullah Al-Sharrah and Fahad Al-Mujammed". Aljarida (in Arabic). 8 March 2026. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ "اعتزال لاعب السالمية المجمد في لقاء العربي". Aljarida (in Arabic). 18 February 2026. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ "Iranian Drones Strike Kuwait International Airport, No Casualties".
- ^ "Kuwait reports injuries and damage after drones target airbase used by US". The Times of Israel. AFP. 2026-03-14. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
- ^ "L'Iran colpisce una base italiana in Kuwait, distrutto un drone. Resta solo il personale essenziale". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 2026-03-15. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ^ "Kuwait Arrests 16 in Cell Linked to Lebanon's Hezbollah". The Wall Street Journal. 2026-03-16. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
- ^ "Hezbollah denies any members in Kuwait after arrest of 16 alleged affiliates". Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International. Agence France Presse. 2026-03-16. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
- ^ "Iran launches new strikes on Kuwait as gas prices rise 35pc". The Daily Telegraph. 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Iran hits Kuwaiti oil refinery as Israel renews attacks on Tehran". Al Jazeera. 20 March 2026.
- ^ "وفاة لاعب منتخب الكويت السابق فتحي كميل الملقب بـ «الفارس الأسمر»". Alayam. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ Elsheikh, Medhat (8 March 2026). "A tragic incident shakes the security services: Two members of the land border security forces killed in Kuwait". Voice Of Emirates. Retrieved 9 March 2026.